If the words at left seem familiar, it is no accident. Indeed, one might say we are reaching past the plate this year for second helpings.

Part of the reason for repeating this theme is the recognition that our focus on stewardship should not be a once-a-year event wrapped around some catchy slogan. God blesses us boundlessly and continuously, from creation to eternity. When we express our gratitude for all that He does for us through prayer, sacrifice and generosity, should we do so only in October?

Let us come together to celebrate the considerable bounty God has given us at Incarnation and honor Him by unselfishly giving of ourselves to His service now and throughout the years. Let us express our gratitude for our growth in spirit, for our opportunities to serve our community, and for our call to commit ourselves to Him completely and collectively today and tomorrow. Once again, let us look past our own plates and work to fill his plate to overflowing.

Gratitude

Did you know that it takes 190 volunteers every Sunday for our seven services?

Do you realize that it costs $15,650 to put on those services each Sunday?

Or that 32% of all the households who made gifts to the church in 2011 are over 65 years young?

Would you be surprised to learn that this congregation has amounted over 22,000 hours toward 22 Outreach missions over the past two years? We have much to be thankful in our church.

Growth

1098  Average Sunday attendance to date in 2011 — a 17% increase since 2008.

288  Number of people attending Incarnation 101 since its inception with 68% joining the church that same night.

$318,600  Amount of non-budget dollars spent to expand or modify the Church to accommodate growth issues.

187  Members attending 8 Growth groups.

Community

20  Fellowship ministries at Incarnation

28  Metro Zip Codes in our congregation

205  Pre-schoolers currently enrolled at Incarnation Academy

257  Adults attending Sunday School classes

1,945  Number of households in the Metroplex listed as members of Incarnation

Service

As the table at right indicates, Incarnation is committed to using its resources to serve the community at home and abroad. Last year, the church spent $913,137 to support outreach, missions, seminarians, and other churches.

Commitment

The chart below displays the various levels of giving from the congregation in 2011. While 42% have made gifts to the church this year, only 29% chose to let us know through the return of a Commitment Card, despite having 104 new pledgers.

Having a record of your commitment certainly helps the church staff to know the limits of their financial accountability, but more importantly provides a useful tool for asserting and maintaining your personal commitment to God and his church. Hopefully, your church has been a proper steward of those gifts.

2011 Annual Household Giving Levels

Please prayerfully consider taking the next step in your discipleship: